Michael Sheridan

Silmiä avaava elämäkerta nykymaailman merkittävimmästä johtajasta. Presidentti Xi Jinping johtaa maailman toiseksi suurinta taloutta ja 1,4 miljardin kansalaisen maata. Silti tämä ehdotonta valtaa käyttävä hallitsija tunnetaan yllättävän huonosti. Kiinan poliittinen eliitti luuli koulivansa Xistä nukkehallitsijaa, mutta presidentiksi päästyään hän keskitti vallan itselleen nopeasti ja häikäilemättä. Xi on ollut yhtä arvaamaton ja vallanjanoinen myös suhteessa muuhun maailmaan. Mahtimiehen muotokuva on myös kertomus Kiinan muutoksesta: köyhästä ja eristyneestä maasta tuli sotilaallinen ja taloudellinen suurvalta, joka ulottaa vaikutusvaltansa idästä länteen.

Den amerikanske arkitekt og forfatter Michael Sheridan stiller i denne bog skarpt på en lang række arketypiske danske design, som har bevaret deres aktualitet takket være deres uovertrufne funktionalitet og enkle form. Hvert designobjekt er resultatet af en årelang udviklingsproces, der forener æstetik, funktion og anvendelighed med afsæt i en rig designtradition. Bogen følger blandt andet Kay Bojesens bestikserie Grand Prix, Grethe Meyers stentøjsserie Ildpot, Mogens Kochs lampe Le Klint 105 og Arne Jacobsens stålserie Cylinda-line – fra håndlavede prototyper over udvikling og forfinelse til massefremstillede produkter. Foruden historiske illustrationer og nye tegninger indeholder bogen over 300 fotos taget af Mikkel Jul Hvilshøj specielt til denne bog. Michael Sheridan er arkitekt, forfatter og dr.arch. og en af verdens førende eksperter inden for moderne dansk arkitektur og design. Han er forfatter til bl.a. Mesterværker. Enfamiliehuset i dansk arkitekturs guldalder (2011) og Værelse 606. SAS-huset og Arne Jacobsens øvrige værk (2023). Sheridan har desuden været en førende stemme i kampen for at frede det ikoniske SAS-hotel i København. Fredningen blev gennemført i august i år.

Midt i København, på 6. sal i SAS-huset, ligger Værelse 606 som et velbevaret mikrokosmos af den danske arkitekt og designer Arne Jacobsens definitive mesterværk. Værelse 606 er i dag det eneste bevarede interiør i SAS-huset, som stod færdigt i 1960 og er designet af Jacobsen for SAS. Bygningen rummede både det luksuriøse SAS Royal Hotel og en lufthavnsterminal. SAS-huset er det mest helstøbte værk i Jacobsens karriere. Her udfoldede han alle sine talentersom designer af møbler, lamper, tekstiler, haver, typografi og bordservice. Som et fragment, der rummer hele bygningens essens, danner Værelse 606 afsæt for en rekonstruktion af Jacobsens forsvundne mesterværk i ord og billeder. Denne gennemillustrerede bog, som indeholder næsten 500 fotos og tegninger, tager læseren med på en virtuel rundvisning på SAS Royal Hotel og i lufthavnsterminalen, som de fremstod i 1960, og sporer SAS-husets inspirationskilder til en række tidligere bygningsværker og designobjekter. Den udforskning af Jacobsens værk, som indledes i Værelse 606, giver dermed en generel introduktion til hele hans karriere. Arkitekt Michael Sheridan, som bor og arbejder i New York, er en internationalt anerkendt ekspert i moderne dansk arkitektur og design og forfatter til blandt andet Mesterværker – enfamiliehuseti dansk arkitekturs guldalder (2011) og Louisiana – arkitektur og landskab (2017).

On 23 October 1983 a suicide attack on US marines killed 241 Americans. But President Ronald Reagan never hit back at the Iranian and Syrian conspirators. Now we know the reason why. Beirut 1983 tells for the first time why the West walked away from Lebanon and opened the way to decades of chaos. It shows that in a bleak bargain with history the Americans had stepped back from the risk of a devastating global conflagration. Full of intrigue, espionage and revelation, it is a true story that will chill anyone who recognizes many of the same dangers today.

On 23 October 1983 a suicide attack on US marines killed 241 Americans. But President Ronald Reagan never hit back at the Iranian and Syrian conspirators. Now we know the reason why. The Knife Edge tells for the first time why the West walked away from Lebanon and opened the way to decades of chaos. It shows that in a bleak bargain with history the Americans had stepped back from the risk of a devastating global conflagration. Full of intrigue, espionage and revelation, it is a true story that will chill anyone who recognizes many of the same dangers today.

Tsja knizhka pereverne vashe ujavlennja pro Kitaj i jogo lidera. Spirajuchis na dva desjatilittja roboti reporterom u Gonkongu, Majkl Sheridan pokazuje Si Tszinpina ne lishe jak pravitelja, a jak spadkojemtsja "chervonoji dinastiji", scho viris u sviti zhakhu, pokaran i zradi. Avtor pojasnjuje, jak konkretni podiji, stalinski doktrini j drevni kitajski teksti formuvali svitogljad Si, jogo nedoviru do svitu. Knizhka rozkrivaje mekhanizmi partiji-derzhavi, scho trimaje pid totalnim kontrolem armiju, ekonomiku i dumki ljudej. Cherez tajemnitsi klaniv, partijni "antikoruptsijni" chistki, zniknennja ministriv ta generaliv, seks-skandali ta more vbivstv postaje obraz imperiji strakhu, de slovo odnijeji ljudini je zakonom dlja vsikh. Tse istorija pro vladu, kontrol, i vpravno pobudovanu iljuziju stabilnosti. Majsternij analiz togo, jak iz ulamkiv revoljutsiji viris suchasnij neoimperator.

'Michael Sheridan is one of the best informed and wisest writers on China' - Chris Patten, last governor of Hong KongThe Red Emperor presents an eye-opening portrait of Xi Jinping, the man who presides over 1.4 billion people and the second largest economy on earth. Born a 'princeling' to one of Communist China's ruling families, the young Xi was exiled to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. He fought his way back to the top by stealth, privilege and guile. In 2012, following the spectacular fall of his rival Bo Xilai, Xi Jinping became the leader of China. In a compulsively readable narrative, veteran foreign correspondent Michael Sheridan takes the reader from the poor, isolated country of Xi's youth to the military and economic superpower of today. In Xi's new China, family mafias struggle for power amid murder, corruption and sex scandals as ministers and generals vanish in purges. No one is safe in his techno-security state. Xi is an absolute ruler whose word is law on everything from war and peace to the ruthless campaign against Covid-19. He aims to dominate world trade, to defeat Western democracy and to make China the supreme power in the East. A loner and a risk-taker, he is the most consequential leader of our time. Drawing on intimate stories from the closed world of China's leading families and two decades of first-hand reporting, Michael Sheridan sheds new light on the history and politics of China. The book reveals that behind the façade of the Chinese Communist Party there is a modern dynasty and a new emperor.

"Punane keiser" esitab silmi avava portree Xi Jinpingist, kes on 1,4 miljardi elaniku ja maailma suuruselt teise majandusega Hiina president. Ta juhib tohutuid relvajõude ja tugevat tehnoloogiaprogrammi, mille eesmärk on maailmas domineerida. Tema varjamatu ambitsioon on asuda USA asemele ja muuta maailmakorda. Kommunistliku Hiina ühe valitseva perekonna printsina sündinud Xi elu on olnud dramaatiline. Ta saadeti noorena kultuurirevolutsiooni ajal maapiirkonda pagendusse, kuid ta võitles maapaost pääsenuna endale salakavaluse abil privileegid tagasi. Teel tippu pole ta heitunud mõrvadest, pandeemiast, võimuvõitlusest ega poliitilistest puhastustest. Raamat juhatab lugeja 1950. aastate vaesest, isoleeritud Hiinast tänapäevase ülivõimsa majandus- ja sõjandusjõuni. "Punases keisris" paljastatakse, kuidas Hiina eliit kasvatas Xist diktaatori. Mehe, kes on teinud endast Mao uue versiooni ja kes ei kavatse võimust loobuda. Raamatu autor, teenekas Hiina korrespondent Michael Sheridan, on saanud juurdepääsu materjalile, mis on ekspertidel varem jäänud märkamata. Sealhulgas on avalikkuse eest varem varjatud dokumente, luureallikate infot ja ka Xi perekonnasõprade lugusid." Tõik, et see monograafia on saatanlikult hästi kirjutatud, muudab raamatus esitatud põrmustavad hinnangud Hiinale ja selle juhile veelgi mõjusamaks." Urmas Hõbepappel, Tartu Ülikooli Aasia keskuse analüütikMICHAEL SHERIDAN kirjutas esimese reportaazhi Hongkongist ja Hiinast 1989. aasta juunis ning töötas hiljem 20 aastat Sunday Timesi Kaug-Ida korrespondendina, kajastades Hiina tõusu, Hongkongi üleandmist 1997. aastal ja linna võitlust demokraatia nimel. Enne seda töötas ta Reutersi, ITNi ja päevalehe Independent heaks, tegi reportaazhe Lähis-Ida sõjast, ülemaailmsest diplomaatiast ja Euroopa poliitikast, viibides lähetuses Roomas, Beirutis ja Jeruusalemmas. Tema töid on avaldatud ka ajakirjades Spectator, Tablet, Vanity Fair ja Hong Kong Economic Journal. Aastal 2021 avaldas ta kriitikutelt kiita saanud raamatu Hongkongi ajaloost "The Gate to China".

Mesterværker er en hyldest til en meget vigtig periode i dansk arkitektur - og i særdeleshed til de danske arkitekter i verdensklasse, som gav os nogle helt nye bud på, hvordan et moderne enfamiliehus kan udformes. Bogens forfatter er den amerikanske arkitekt Michael Sheridan. Med den særlige faglige indsigt, der er en følge af forfatterens mangeårige kærlighed til dansk bygningskunst og design, beskriver Michael Sheridan 14 arkitektoniske mesterværker fra perioden 1950-1962. I bogen fortæller han den fascinerende historie om en særlig dansk fortolkning af det moderne i arkitekturen - en historie, der peger frem mod en ny guldalder i arkitekturen. Husene er tegnet af 11 store danske arkitekter, heriblandt Jørn Utzon, Arne Jacobsen, Jørgen Bo og Vilhelm Wohlert, Hanne Kjærholm, Erik Christian Sørensen og Halldor Gunnløgsson. De bliver alle portrætteret i bogens tredje og sidste del.

'Michael Sheridan is one of the best informed and wisest writers on China' - Chris Patten, last governor of Hong KongThe Red Emperor presents an eye-opening portrait of Xi Jinping, the man who presides over 1.4 billion people and the second largest economy on earth. Born a 'princeling' to one of Communist China's ruling families, the young Xi was exiled to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. He fought his way back to the top by stealth, privilege and guile. In 2012, following the spectacular fall of his rival Bo Xilai, Xi Jinping became the leader of China. In a compulsively readable narrative, veteran foreign correspondent Michael Sheridan takes the reader from the poor, isolated country of Xi's youth to the military and economic superpower of today. In Xi's new China, family mafias struggle for power amid murder, corruption and sex scandals as ministers and generals vanish in purges. No one is safe in his techno-security state. Xi is an absolute ruler whose word is law on everything from war and peace to the ruthless campaign against Covid-19. He aims to dominate world trade, to defeat Western democracy and to make China the supreme power in the East. A loner and a risk-taker, he is the most consequential leader of our time. Drawing on intimate stories from the closed world of China's leading families and two decades of first-hand reporting, Michael Sheridan sheds new light on the history and politics of China. The book reveals that behind the façade of the Chinese Communist Party there is a modern dynasty and a new emperor.

Roots of Power tells five stories of plants, people, property, politics, peace, and protection in tropical societies. In Cameroon, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent, and Tanzania, dracaena and cordyline plants are simultaneously property rights institutions, markers of social organization, and expressions of life-force and vitality. In addition to their localized roles in forming landscapes and societies, these plants mark multiple boundaries and demonstrate deep historical connections across much of the planet’s tropics. These plants’ deep roots in society and culture have made them the routes through which postcolonial agrarian societies have negotiated both social and cultural continuity and change. This book is a multi-sited ethnographic political ecology of ethnobotanical institutions. It uses five parallel case studies to investigate the central phenomenon of "boundary plants" and establish the linkages among the case studies via both ancient and relatively recent demographic transformations such as the Bantu expansion across tropical Africa, the Austronesian expansion into the Pacific, and the colonial system of plantation slavery in the Black Atlantic. Each case study is a social-ecological system with distinctive characteristics stemming from the ways that power is organized by kinship and gender, social ranking, or racialized capitalism. This book contributes to the literature on property rights institutions and land management by arguing that tropical boundary plants’ social entanglements and cultural legitimacy make them effective foundations for development policy. Formal recognition of these institutions could reduce contradiction, conflict, and ambiguity between resource managers and states in postcolonial societies and contribute to sustainable livelihoods and landscapes. This book will appeal to scholars and students of environmental anthropology, political ecology, ethnobotany, landscape studies, colonial history, and development studies, and readers will benefit from its demonstration of the comparative method.

Roots of Power tells five stories of plants, people, property, politics, peace, and protection in tropical societies. In Cameroon, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, St. Vincent, and Tanzania, dracaena and cordyline plants are simultaneously property rights institutions, markers of social organization, and expressions of life-force and vitality. In addition to their localized roles in forming landscapes and societies, these plants mark multiple boundaries and demonstrate deep historical connections across much of the planet’s tropics. These plants’ deep roots in society and culture have made them the routes through which postcolonial agrarian societies have negotiated both social and cultural continuity and change. This book is a multi-sited ethnographic political ecology of ethnobotanical institutions. It uses five parallel case studies to investigate the central phenomenon of "boundary plants" and establish the linkages among the case studies via both ancient and relatively recent demographic transformations such as the Bantu expansion across tropical Africa, the Austronesian expansion into the Pacific, and the colonial system of plantation slavery in the Black Atlantic. Each case study is a social-ecological system with distinctive characteristics stemming from the ways that power is organized by kinship and gender, social ranking, or racialized capitalism. This book contributes to the literature on property rights institutions and land management by arguing that tropical boundary plants’ social entanglements and cultural legitimacy make them effective foundations for development policy. Formal recognition of these institutions could reduce contradiction, conflict, and ambiguity between resource managers and states in postcolonial societies and contribute to sustainable livelihoods and landscapes. This book will appeal to scholars and students of environmental anthropology, political ecology, ethnobotany, landscape studies, colonial history, and development studies, and readers will benefit from its demonstration of the comparative method.

An epic history of the rise of China and the fall of Hong Kong to authoritarian rule. Essential reading for anyone wishing to deal with China or to understand the world in which we live. The rise of China and the fall of Hong Kong to authoritarian rule are told with unique insight in this new history by Michael Sheridan, drawing on documents from archives in China and the West, interviews with key figures and eyewitness reporting over three decades. The story takes the reader from the earliest days of trade through the Opium Wars of the nineteenth century to the age of globalisation, the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China, the fight for democracy on the city's streets and the ultimate victory of the Chinese Communist Party. As the West seeks a new China policy, we learn from private papers how Margaret Thatcher anguished over the fate of Hong Kong, sought secret American briefings on how to deal with Beijing and put her trust in a spymaster who was tormented by his own doubts. The Chinese version of history, so often unheard, emerges from memoirs and documents, many of them entirely new to the foreign reader, which reveal China's negotiating tactics. The voices of Hong Kong people - eloquent, smart and bold - speak compellingly here at every turn. The Gate to China tells how Hong Kong was the gate to China as it reformed its economy and changed the world, emerging to challenge the West with a new order that raised fundamental questions about freedom, identity, and progress. Told through real human stories and a gripping narrative for the general reader, it is also critical reading for all who study, trade or deal with China.

‘Impressive … Fascinating’ Sunday Times ‘An authoritative history’ Financial Times ‘Gripping and richly researched’ Rana Mitter A superb new history of the rise of China and the fall of Hong Kong to authoritarian rule. The rise of China and the fall of Hong Kong to authoritarian rule are told with unique insight in this new history by Michael Sheridan, drawing on eyewitness reporting over three decades, interviews with key figures and documents from archives in China and the West. The story sweeps the reader from the earliest days of trade through the Opium Wars of the 19th century to the age of globalisation and the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China. It ends with the battle for democracy on the city’s streets and the ultimate victory of the Chinese Communist Party. How did it come to this? We learn from private papers that Margaret Thatcher anguished over the fate of Hong Kong, sought secret American briefings on how to handle China and put her trust in an adviser who was torn between duty and pride. The deal they made with Beijing did not last. The Chinese side of this history, so often unheard, emerges from memoirs and documents, many new to the foreign reader, revealing how the party’s iron will and negotiating tactics crushed its opponents. Yet the voices of Hong Kong people – eloquent, smart and bold – speak out here for ideals that refuse to die. Sheridan’s book tells how Hong Kong opened the way for the People’s Republic as it reformed its economy and changed the world, emerging to challenge the West with a new order that raises fundamental questions about progress, identity and freedom. It is critical reading for all who study, trade or deal with China.